How to grow when you’re in a plateau

Growth is necessary in order to achieve new goals in life. If we are on a pursuit of improvement which I believe some of us would like to be on then it’s important to grow. But if we find ourselves stuck in structured routines it will be very hard to make progress. Why? Because you will get comfortable.

Comfort will ruin your life

This country we live in is structured so that we walk the path of least resistance. If you want food just go the corner market and you have food right there. If you want entertainment you have in front of your monitor or phone screen. No exercise no problem. The obesity rate in this country is a telling sign of the lack of movement we are getting in this country.

If you’re stuck in your training program not making the progress that you want then perhaps it’s time to introduce some real growth. Let’s face it. We can get complacent doing the same routines the same structure over time. We get comfortable doing the same movements in our training. If you’re there then it’s time to get uncomfortable and introduce some change.

If you don’t know who David Goggins is, look him up. He is the hardest man in the world. He’s former Navy Seal (now retired) and ultramarathoner and at one time held the pull up record at 4,030 pull ups in 24 hours. He believes that we must get uncomfortable in order to grow.

To grow in life be willing to suffer

Know one wants to suffer. At any sight of pain or fear we run from it. We think that suffering is a negative thing not to be experienced. But Goggins has a much different point of view. Suffering as painful as it is has the gift of growth.

“It’s so easy to be great nowadays because everyone else is weak. If you have any mental toughness, if you have any fraction of self-discipline; the ability to not want to do it but still do it; if you can get through to doing things you hate to do; on the other side is greatness.” – David Goggins

Be willing to accept new change in your life and break from your routine. Experience new growth by allowing yourself to experience discomfort. You don’t have to run an ultramarathon or become a Nay Seal but be willing to suffer. Personally, I’ve started to run at 6am in the morning and that is very uncomfortable. But I’m doing it. The rest of my day is easy. Because waking up in a cozy bed feels really good and then to get out the door taking those first steps to run is hard. Very, very hard.